It's July.
For most of us this marks the halfway point of our summer... and if you've not been too serious about utilizing your summer 'downtime' to prepare for the upcoming year thus far... all is not lost.
But, it does probably mean that upon your return from the 4th of July holiday weekend it will be time to get down to some serious business.
Here are a few thoughts on how to make good use of the month of July:: please share your additional ideas, thoughts and comments in the comments section below!
- Assessment - if you haven't done any intentional assessment of your ministry efforts from the past year, now is the time. If we want our ministry efforts in the upcoming year to be fruitful, and tracking in the right direction, assessment is a necessity. I wrote a couple of posts on this topic here, here and here based on a day-long conversation I was a part of at the Summer Institute from Campus Ministry a couple of weeks ago.
- Take a vacation - I know I just said "GET TO WORK!" But if you've not yet taken some time to get off campus, and away with family or friends, than now is the time to do it. You don't want to start the new year tired and depleted.
- Attend a retreat or conference - There are still a number of good opportunities out there to connect with peers and professionals while you further prepare and equip yourself for the work God has called you to in the upcoming year.
- Spend some extra time at home - I will always be a fan of this... especially when students are away. There's no time like the present to invest in the most important of relationships we have with the people we love.
- Soul Care - we cannot take people places we are not ourselves. Finding someone/s who can invest in us, as ministers, is critical to our success and sanity as we prepare for another year of pouring ourselves out into the lives of students.
- Connect with your team - if you're not already, it's probably time to start meeting with your team with some more intention and purpose. Making plans for student leader training, connecting with new students during orientation and the first weeks of school, as well as mapping out your fall semester will be important in setting the stage for a good start to the new academic year. Consider a staff retreat as a way of reconnecting and beginning the new year of ministry on a united front.
- Connect with other key ministry partners - Sure up your plans and partnerships for the year. Taking the initiative to do this now, as opposed next month - when we'll be running around madly trying to get things ready for the return of students - is one way to make August a little more peaceful.
- Map out the rest of your summer - Most of us have about 6 weeks left to our summer. In order to make the most of our time it will be important to map out what we need to do, and when we need to do it. I'm not a big "lists" guy, but for the sake of "starting well," I will be for the next several weeks!
As I said at the beginning of June, the summer months provide us some much needed space for rest and 'uninterrupted' work. I believe that God calls us all to be good stewards of this 'off season' on campus. And I hold to it!
How will you utilize the month ahead?
